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Prague Tourist Information
Visit a Prague tourist information centre or simply read our guide below, which offers practical information and advice to help you plan your Prague trip. |
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Prague Tourist Information Centres
For information on the layout of the city and key facts, see Prague tourism
For a list of places to visit in Prague, see our guide to Prague sights and tourist attractions. | |
Currency, Money, BANKS and Foreign Exchange in Prague
Currency in Prague: Czech Crown (CZK)
The currency in Prague and the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown (CZK), also known as the Czech koruna (Kč).
Most places in Prague accept credit cards and mobile payments, but not all. It is advisable to carry at least some Czech Crowns in cash.
Some larger hotels, shops and restaurants accept both Euros and Czech Crowns.
Many local shops, entertainment venues and tourist attractions only accept Czech Crowns.
Czech Crowns (CZK) currency converter
Exchange rates today: 1000 CZK = £37 / €42 / $45.
Banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 100/200/500/1000/2000/5000 CZK. | |

Prague currency: Czech Crown (CZK) |
Currency exchange in Prague: Find the best exchange rate
To change money into Czech Crowns, visitors can obtain a better exchange in Prague than in their home country.
The best exchange is usually obtained by withdrawing Czech Crowns from a cash machine (ATM) at a bank in Prague, even accounting for any transaction fees your card issuer may levy.
But note the following:
(i) Cash machines (ATMs) in Prague
Cash machines in Prague accept debit and credit cards backed by Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Key points on withdrawing money from an ATM:
1. Use a debit card if possible: transaction fees are normally lower than for a credit card.
2. Use an ATM belonging to a bank, NOT a currency exchange company.
Even better, use an ATM at an actual bank rather than a stand alone machine in a random location; some stand alone ATMs impose extra charges.
3. If the ATM offers the option to 'pay using home currency', ignore it and opt to 'pay in local currency'. The transaction will then be converted at a good international rate. If you select 'home currency', the ATM converts the Czech Crowns at its own rate, which will be poor; this is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). Avoid it.
(ii) Best places to change cash in Prague
To change cash for Czech Crowns, the best exchange rates can be found in the city centre, but be careful where you go:
For excellent exchange rates and no commission, we recommend: eXchange at Kaprova 1 (near Old Town Square) and Samiko Exchange at Štěpánská 39 (near Wenceslas Square).
The main area for banking in Prague is Wenceslas Square. Banks in the square offer good exchange rates, but do charge a small commission.
Be wary of small currency exchange booths. Some offer reasonable rates, but at many offers of 0% commission and confusing signs mask a poor rate. Always ask what the total amount you will receive is before handing over any money.
Credit card acceptance & Pay by mobile
Credit cards, including contactless cards, and Pay by mobile via Google Pay and Apple Pay, are widely accepted as means of payment at hotels, restaurants and international shops in Prague.
However, at some local shops, cafés and bars, cash is still king. |
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COST OF LIVING IN PRAGUE
Food and drink in restaurants, bars, cafés and shops in Prague is generally cheaper than in Western Europe. Czech beer and wine in pubs is considerably cheaper.
The price of clothes and durable consumer goods is similar to in other European cities. | |
When to Visit Prague
Prague is a beautiful city to visit all year round. The dramatic contrasts in weather and temperatures only add to its appeal.
The majestic squares and historic buildings are a joy to explore both in the hot summer sunshine and in the deep snows of winter, while the river and parks naturally offer different experiences with every season.
The tourist attractions, restaurants and theatres are well equipped to welcome visitors at all times, with buildings heated in the winter and many air-conditioned in the summer.
And the city is always somewhere to kick back and relax: on fine weather days from spring through autumn, an al fresco drink at a pavement café or in a beer garden basking in the sunshine can be a highlight of your trip; while in the winter, the warm and cosy ambience inside the pubs and traditional cafés can offer a delightful respite from the cold.
April to June are the most popular months to visit Prague, followed by the Autumn months of September and October, then December. The Christmas markets are in place throughout December, and the festive atmosphere draws people from around the world. New Year's Eve is perhaps the most popular time of all.
The hotel prices reflect this: the most expensive months to book a room are May, April, June, September, October and December, in this order. It is worth noting though that if you can travel midweek, Sunday to Thursday stays are pretty cheap all year round.
July and August present an anomaly to exploit. There are fewer tourists to jostle with and visitors can enjoy lovely sunny weather at relatively low cost; flights and accommodation are cheaper in the height of the summer because many Europeans prefer to head for a Mediterranean beach.
The remaining months of November, January, February and March present an opportunity to enjoy a cheap city break without the crowds. You gamble on the weather, but at certain times one has the feeling you have the city all to yourself.
While the cost of flights and hotels vary widely throughout the year, and can get considerably more expensive the closer you get to the date of your trip, the prices for sightseeing, eating and entertainment in Prague remain more or less the same. | |
Weather in Prague
The weather in Prague varies dramatically between the seasons, far more than for example in London.
Summer (June to August) is often hot and sunny, with temperatures reaching the highs of Paris.
Winter (December to February) can be very cold, with lengthy periods of snow.
In spring and autumn, Prague enjoys long spells of warm sunny weather, interspersed with dull days and heavy showers. | |  Weather in Prague |
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The average high temperature in July/August is 23°C (73°F). However, at least one heat wave can be expected, with temperatures pushed up to 35°C (95°F), possibly higher.
The average low temperature in December is -2°C (28°F) and in January is -4°C (25°F). Both months have colder periods, when temperatures dip much lower than this. | |
What to Wear in Prague
If you are considering what to wear in Prague, on good days, from spring through to autumn, visitors will find cool shirts, shorts, skirts and dresses most welcome. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and hats too.
However, even in summer the weather can be highly changeable. Bring a fleece and a waterproof jacket or umbrella, in case of a cold snap or heavy shower.
In the winter, you will be glad of a warm coat, hat and gloves. Waterproof shoes are also a good idea, to protect you against rain or snow.
Prague is a wonderful city to explore on foot, so a comfortable pair of shoes is a good idea all year round. The city centre is compact, making it easy to walk between the Prague sights and tourist attractions. And the most important sights, such as Prague Castle and the Old Town Square, are only fully accessible on foot.
While it may be nice to dress smartly, and many people do, Prague is a fairly casual city. Restaurants, concert venues, theatres and other tourist venues do not have strict dress codes, and accept most forms of attire. | |
WiFi and Internet Access
5G/4G is widely available in Prague. Smartphones and other devices easily connect to mobile networks, including Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2, EE, Three and China Mobile.
WiFi is free and widely available in Prague: in hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, cafés, on river cruises, and in coffeehouses and fast food restaurants - Costa Coffee, Starbucks, KFC and McDonald's.
WiFi is also free at Prague Airport. |
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TElephone and Post
Telephone
International Dialling Code for Czech Republic: +420.
Useful & emergency telephone numbers
Directory enquiries: Czech numbers: 1180. International numbers: 1181.
General emergency: 112.
Fire: 150. Ambulance: 155.
Municipal Police: 156. Police: 158.
First Aid:
141 23. Pharmacy: 141 24.
Dental:
141 22.
Emergency Road Service: 1230/1240.
Post Office
Central Prague Post Office: Jindrisska 14 (off Wenceslas Square), Prague 1.
Open: Daily 02:00-24:00.
Tel: 604 221 504.
Postage rates
Domestic letters & postcards: 19 CZK (50g).
International letters & postcards: Europe 39 CZK (50g); Outside Europe 45 CZK (50g). |
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Czech Post Office sign |
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Electricity
As in most of Northern and Central Europe, the electricity supply in Prague is 230v. Electrical sockets take standard European two-pin plugs.
British, North American and other tourists should bring adaptors. In Prague, adaptors can be purchased at Tesco or at Euronics at Palladium Shopping Centre. | |
Public Transport in Prague
The Prague public transport network is cheap, efficient and highly integrated. Public transportation runs frequently during the day and at night, and a single ticket permits travel on trams, buses and the Prague Metro. | |
Dangers & Annoyances - Is Prague a safe city?
Prague is regarded by both locals and visitors as a safe city; safe to walk around and safe to travel on public transport, including at night. Assaults are extremely rare.
Pickpockets are the number one thing to look out for. Keep a close eye on your valuables: do not keep your wallet in your back pocket or hang your handbag on a chair in a crowded café. Make sure you can see or feel your money and other valuables. And observe the golden rule: if you do not need to carry it, leave it in the hotel safe.
Beware over-charging: in restaurants, check the bill carefully; in taxis, insist the driver puts the meter on - and if there is no meter, agree a price before you set off; avoid small currency exchange booths - see our advice on currency exchange above.
Our mission at Prague Experience is to help visitors experience the best of Prague. Tourist services listed on this website have been tested and approved - and if a service subsequently falls short, it is removed (places do change). Our Prague airport transfer drivers are polite and honest. Our accommodation is of a high standard. The restaurants we list serve great food, with good customer service. And we only sell the best sightseeing tours and river cruises, and list the best performances at the finest opera houses and concert halls and theatres in Prague. | |
Tipping
Tips are naturally welcomed by workers in the tourist industry, although the feeling is generally relaxed. Staff do not tend to chase tips. 5%-10% is appropriate. The exception is the overpriced touristy restaurants, which Prague Experience do not list. To avoid them, you may wish to consider the ones listed in our Prague restaurants guide. | |
Smoking
Smoking is illegal in enclosed public places in Prague and the Czech Republic, including in pubs, bars, cafés, restaurants and theatres. | |
Children's Activities & Families
As already stated, Prague is relatively safe. Parents need have no extra concerns for their children over the normal care one would take in a city.
There are plenty of activities for kids to participate in: Gothic towers to climb, a Petrin Funicular Railway to ride and museums to visit. Plus there is Prague Zoo, Sea World, swimming pools, parks, river cruises, and several puppet and black light theatre shows to choose from: children's activities in Prague.
Most restaurants and cafés welcome children, some have high chairs for babies. While kids' menus are rare, waiters are generally happy to suggest suitable dishes for children from the adult menu or perhaps offer half portions. Smoking in restaurants is banned.
Important: both adults and children should watch out for trams when crossing roads. You may not be used to seeing them, and trams have the right of way. | |  Prague for Children |
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Accessibility: Wheelchairs, Walking Difficulties, PRAMS & BUGGIES
A continuous cycle of improvement to public buildings and the transport network in Prague ensures there is now barrier-free access to many of the city's tourist services.
And wheelchair users, people with walking difficulties, and families with prams and pushchairs will be pleased to note that Prague's city centre is compact, with many sights and tourist attractions located close to each other.
Stay in a hotel in the city centre (Prague 1), and if you can walk short distances or be pushed, you can participate in much of the sightseeing and entertainment on offer without using public transport or taxis.
Read more in our Prague Accessibility Guide. | |
Healthcare & Medical Services
The Czech Republic is a developed country, and the standard of healthcare is impressive, especially in Prague. The country performs above the EU average in terms of affordability, low waiting times and outcomes. It is also a popular destination for medical tourism.
For Czech citizens, health insurance is compulsory.
EU citizens have free access to emergency medical care through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
UK citizens have free access to emergency medical care through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
Other nationals, and EU and UK citizens requiring more extensive medical cover than that provided for under EHIC and GHIC, are advised to arrange appropriate travel insurance.
There are no major health risks in Prague at present. The tap water is safe to drink, and food-borne diseases are not a major concern in restaurants and shops.
In the wider Czech Republic, particularly in forested areas, travellers should avoid insect and tick bites, which can cause irritation and infections of the skin, and spread diseases.
Tourists seeking medical attention in Prague, both emergency and general medical care, have several options. Pharmacies can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses. For emergency care, dial 112 to be connected to the EU emergency line, which guarantees an English-speaking operator. Alternatively, contact the Czech medical emergency services on 155. Ambulance response times are usually good.
Pharmacies (Lekarny)
There are many pharmacies in Prague. Most are located in the New Town, both in the form of stand-alone stores and within shopping malls.
Dr. Max Lekarna, Vodickova 40 (off Wenceslas Square), Prague 1.
Open: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00.
Tel: 224 235 847.
Adamova Lekarna, Wenceslas Square 8, Prague 1.
Open: Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00; Sat 11:00-19:00.
Tel: 224 227 532.
Lekarna, Palladium Shopping Centre (Level -2), Náměstí Republiky, Prague 1.
Open: Thu-Sat 09:00-22:00; Sun-Wed 09:00-21:00. Tel: 224 829 073.
Lekarna Opletalova, Opletalova 4 (off Wenceslas Square), Prague 1. Open: Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00; Sat 10:00-14:00. Tel: 224 220 703. | |
 Pharmacies in Prague |
Lékárna U červeného orla / Pharma Point, Havelska 14 (between Wenceslas Square & Old Town Square), Prague 1. Open: Mon-Fri 08:30-18:30; Sat-Sun 10:00-18:30.
Tel: 222 265 259.
Lekarna, Palackeho 5 (near Wenceslas Square), Prague 1. Open: Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00. Tel: 224 946 982.
Dr. Max Lekarna, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi (Main Train Station), Wilsonova 8, Prague 2.
Open: Mon-Fri 07:00-19:00; Sat-Sun 08:00-20:00.
Lekarna U svate Ludmily, Belgická 37, Prague 2. Open: Mon-Fri 07:00-21:00; Sat 08:00-20:00; Sun 09:00-20:00. Tel: 222 513 396 Web: Website.
Doctors (Doktori) Doctor Prague, Vodickova 28, 3rd entrance, 2nd floor, Prague 1. Open: Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00; 24hr emergency service. Tel: 224 220 040. Emergency Tel: 603 433 833 / 603 481 361.
Dentists (Zubari) Malo Clinic, Kateřinská 18, Prague 2. Open: Mon-Thu 07:30-19:30; Fri 07:30-16:30; 24hr emergency service. Tel: 775 785 222. Website. | |
Passport & Visa Information for visitors
Passport requirements to enter the Czech Republic
EU nationals: You must have a passport or ID card valid for the length of your visit (your passport must not expire before you leave the Czech Republic).
UK & other nationals: You must have a passport valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Czech Republic. Your passport must also be less than 10 years old:
more passport information.
Visa information
Czech Republic (Czechia) is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area. Therefore, most tourist visitors do not require a visa to visit Prague, just a valid passport (or ID card for EU citizens). | |  Passport and Visa Information |
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EU, UK, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and USA nationals, plus citizens of many other countries, can visit Prague without a visa.
Other nationals may require a visa: more visa information. | |
Foreign Embassies & Consulates
-Czech Embassies Worldwide -Czech Embassy in London -Foreign Embassies in Prague. | |
Customs Allowances within the European Union (EU)
Arrival: If you travel to Prague from an EU country, you can bring an unlimited quantity of most goods, including alcohol and tobacco, so long as it is for personal use.
If you travel to Prague from a non-EU country, you can bring most goods, within reason, including alcohol and tobacco, but not meat or dairy products.
Departure: If you travel to an EU country from Prague, you can carry an unlimited quantity of most goods, including alcohol and tobacco, so long as it is for personal use.
If you travel to a non-EU country from Prague, you can carry most goods, within reason, including alcohol and tobacco. And you are exempt from paying VAT and taxes on alcohol - duty-free alcohol is available for purchase at Prague Airport (PRG).
How much duty-free you can carry depends on the rules of the country you are flying to.
Travellers bound for the UK, for example, can return home with:
-42 litres of beer and 18 litres of still wine;
-4 litres of spirits OR 9 litres of sparkling wine, fortified wine or any alcoholic beverage less than 22% ABV;
-200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco OR 200 sticks of tobacco OR any proportional combination of these. | |
Lost Property
Prague 1, Karoliny Svetle 5.
Open: Mon & Wed 08:00-12:00 & 12:30-17:30; Tue & Thu 08:00-12:00 & 12:30-16:00; Fri 08:00-12:00 & 12:30-14:00.
Tel: 224 235 085. | | | |
More Information
Our Prague tourism guide explains the layout of the city.
Follow the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) News for Prague.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. |
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CURRENCY GUIDE |  | | £1 = 27 CZK |
| |  | | €1 = 24 CZK |
| |  | | $1 = 22 CZK |
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